doo-wop: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
lowinformal
Quick answer
What does “doo-wop” mean?
A style of vocal-based rhythm and blues and rock and roll music popular in the 1950s and early 1960s, characterized by close harmony singing, nonsense syllables, and a simple beat.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A style of vocal-based rhythm and blues and rock and roll music popular in the 1950s and early 1960s, characterized by close harmony singing, nonsense syllables, and a simple beat.
Can refer nostalgically to the era, fashion, or cultural aesthetics associated with the music. Sometimes used humorously to refer to overly sentimental or simplistic vocal harmonies.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term originated and is most associated with American pop culture. UK usage is primarily in historical or musical analysis contexts.
Connotations
In the US, strong connotations of 1950s nostalgia, youth culture, and early rock and roll. In the UK, it is recognized as an American musical genre.
Frequency
More frequent in American English, especially in discussions of music history.
Grammar
How to Use “doo-wop” in a Sentence
[Adjective] doo-wopdoo-wop [noun]play/sing [doo-wop]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “doo-wop” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [no standard verb use]
American English
- [no standard verb use]
adverb
British English
- [no standard adverb use]
American English
- [no standard adverb use]
adjective
British English
- The festival featured a doo-wop tribute band.
American English
- He's got a great collection of doo-wop records.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Extremely rare; only in niche music marketing or entertainment history.
Academic
Used in musicology, cultural studies, and American history contexts.
Everyday
Used when discussing oldies music, nostalgia, or by enthusiasts.
Technical
A defined genre in music taxonomy with specific harmonic and rhythmic features.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “doo-wop”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “doo-wop”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “doo-wop”
- Misspelling as 'doowop', 'doo wap', or 'do-wop'. Using it to describe any old music, not specifically the vocal harmony style.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Doo-wop is a 1950s R&B/pop style with a backbeat, often with bass and tenor leads. Barbershop is an older, a cappella style with a specific four-part harmonic structure.
Not in standard usage. It is almost exclusively a noun (the genre) or an adjective (doo-wop music).
The name is onomatopoeic, derived from the nonsense syllables (like 'doo-wop' or 'doo-wah') used as rhythmic backing in the music.
It is not mainstream but has niche popularity among oldies enthusiasts and periodic revivals. Its harmonies influenced many later pop and soul artists.
A style of vocal-based rhythm and blues and rock and roll music popular in the 1950s and early 1960s, characterized by close harmony singing, nonsense syllables, and a simple beat.
Doo-wop is usually informal in register.
Doo-wop: in British English it is pronounced /ˈduː wɒp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduː wɑːp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[none specific to this term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Remember the nonsense syllables in the name: groups would sing 'doo-wop, doo-wah' as part of the rhythm.
Conceptual Metaphor
MUSIC IS A TIME MACHINE (evokes a specific historical period).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key characteristic of doo-wop music?